Four Alumni Honored With Helen Hayes Awards

Several Catholic University alumni from the Department of Drama and the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music were honored for their work in Washington, D.C.-area productions during the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, which took place April 21 at the National Building Museum.

The Helen Hayes Awards recognize outstanding achievement in plays and musicals in more than 80 professional theatres in the D.C. area. The award is named for actress Helen Hayes, whose 80 year career earned her an Emmy, a Grammy, two Oscars, and two Tony awards. She made her final stage appearance at the Hartke Theatre playing Mary Tyrone in a 1971 production of Eugene O’Neil’s classic “Long Day’s Journey into Night.”

Among the drama alumni winners this year was Andrew F. Griffin (2006), who won for Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production, for his work in “Henry V” at the Folger Theatre in D.C. Griffin was also nominated for the same award for “The Tempest” at Synetic Theater in Arlington.

Ben Cunis (2006) won for Outstanding Movement, Residential Play, for his choreography work in “The Three Musketeers” at Synetic Theater.

Drama alumni James Kronzer (1985) and Matthew Dewberry (2009) also received nominations.

Music school alumnae Lauren Williams (2005) and Tracy Lynn Olivera (1999) were honored for their work in Ford’s Theatre’s production of “Hello, Dolly,” which won for Outstanding Ensemble.

Music students and alumni who received nominations included senior musical theatre majors Jay Garrick and Paul Scanlan and alumni Maria Rizzo (2012) and Kurt Boehm (2005).

The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music is Washington, D.C.’s only university school of music. More than 2,000 of its alumni have won a variety of awards as performers, music educators, and scholars. The Department of Drama in the School of Arts and Sciences has been the educational incubator for acclaimed playwrights, directors, and actors since 1937.